GWYNN LISTENS TO CRITICISM, ADVICE, TAKES THEM TO HEART

Tony Gwynn always had a good eye at home. Seems the San Diego State baseball coach’s ears work there, too.

“My wife gave me some advice last year when I was sick and I thought, ‘Ah, woman, you don’t know what you’re talking about,’ ” the Padres’ Hall of Famer said. “But I really took it to heart.”

Alicia Gwynn’s advice was to back off his players, not pile on. To ease from the pedal instead of standing on it.

“She said, ‘You just need to relax and let ’em go play,’ and that is what I’m trying to do,” Gwynn said. “I’m trying not to be so critical and always analyzing everything.”

How’s that working, Mr. Padre?

“It’s not as hard as I thought it would be,” he said. “I’ve got to give her a lot of credit.”

Gwynn’s fresh approach isn’t challenged after a three-game weekend sweep, like what the Aztecs accomplished against Seton Hall. Instead, it’s tested in testy games, like a recent clunker against No. 6 Oregon State. A close contest turned ugly, with the Aztecs falling 8-1.

“A year ago I would have been fussin’ in the clubhouse,” Gwynn said. “Instead it was, ‘We’ll chalk it up and try to go get ’em on Tuesday.’ ”

Any day is a good day spent with Gwynn. More so now, with his battles from cancer evident with scars on his face’s right side and a left eye that struggles to stay open.

On Monday, Gwynn was again waging war against the disease.

Gwynn had another test, although he called it “routine” as if anything is, considering the medical obstacles he has encountered.

What he hasn’t been immune to is criticism. Entering his 11th season at the stadium bearing his name, Gwynn’s squads (297-316) have advanced to one NCAA Regional.

Like hearing his wife, Gwynn hears the detractors.

“Absolutely,” he said, behind a desk crammed with lineups and video discs. “Shoot, I’ve been talking about that all year long because it seems like every team on campus is winning a Mountain West championship but us.

“Now it’s our turn; we got to carry the mail, too.”

Once, Gwynn speculated, in some aspects, he could mail it in.

“I thought this was the easiest gig in the world,” he said, his noted cackle filling the room. “Just go out and get the best players you can, bring them to SDSU and we are going to win a national championship.

“But I found out Major League Baseball liked those players, too, and it can give them cash.”